In June 2023, Houghton Library requested increased imaging production for the Dickinson Family Library project.
At the time, an estimated 86,847 page-images remained, and our production rate would have had us completing the project in 2034.
Through consultation, testing and evaluation, Houghton and Imaging Services revised the sorting criteria used to determine which books require specialized handling and photography from those well-matched to our standardized, higher-production, photography service. The updated sorting criteria dramatically increased the proportion of books routed to the higher-throughput service.
Subsequently, Imaging Services has completed 8 batches between June 2023 and May 2024, with page-images totaling 16,172–an average 1,501 per month.
With 70,675 images remaining, and our current production rate of 1,501 per month, our projected project completion date is April 03, 2028.
Alternatively, if we set a goal of completing the project on June 30, 2026, for example, our production rate would need to be 2,723 images per month; and in practice, ensuring we complete the project on-time would require setting a more ambitious target, recognizing we will periodically fail to hit any mark we set.
In this scenario, Imaging Services would recommend Houghton deliver 4000–5000 pages monthly to D20, in addition to any batches it delivers to D40, and that we reassess our progress in six-or-so months.